Free Parking is for Monopoly Games, Not These Cities

Transportation costs are an important factor when it comes to discussing cost of living. Of course, when it comes to public transportation, not all cities are created equal. Free parking, for example, is a luxury in some cities while commonplace in others.

Half of you reading this will look at that last sentence above and think one of two things. “Free parking? What are they talking about?” Or “Free parking? What other kind is there?”

Larger cities in America tend to find that parking is a premium services. In cities such as New York, for example; free parking is almost nonexistent. However, in Kalamazoo, Michigan you can live your entire life within the city limits and rarely, if ever, pay for a parking space.

Not surprisingly, the list above includes most of America’s largest, most expensive cities. Los Angeles was recently named the city (in the world) with the worst traffic; making its absence from this list somewhat surprising. However, other cities that ranked in that list were Seattle, New York, and San Francisco.

Those three cities have the double-whammy of high traffic and scarce free parking. Of course, those two items may be related.

Looking For A Space?

Few people are likely to choose their home city based on the availability of parking. However, it is one of several costs associated with where you live. For calculating your true cost of living, download City vs City.

City vs City is a cost of living application which uses local data from your zip code to determine your cost of living. Compare your current city against another city of your choosing. As a result, you’ll see a side by side comparison of costs.

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The estimates provided by this cost-of-living calculator are not exact, they are just more precise estimates than what alternative calculators can produce. Always consult with a tax professional before making financial decisions